User login methods, devices, and systems

ABSTRACT

A user login method for use in a terminal is provided. The method includes: receiving an automatic login request; acquiring a terminal identifier of the terminal; sending, to a server, a query request about a user account associated with the terminal identifier and a password corresponding to the user account, the query request including the terminal identifier; receiving, from the server, a query result based on the query request; selecting a user account from the query result and a password corresponding to the selected user account, if the query result is not empty; and sending, to the server, the selected user account and the corresponding password, for the selected user account to login after authentication by the server.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This international application claims priority to Chinese PatentApplication No. 201310275044.0, filed Jul. 2, 2013, the entire contentsof which are incorporated herein by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure generally relates to the field of mobilecommunication technology and, more particularly, to user login methods,devices, and systems.

BACKGROUND

With the functional enhancement of mobile terminals, popularization ofwireless networks, and the abundance of Internet information, more andmore users of mobile terminals, such as mobile phones, are connecting tothe Internet through wireless connections to use software applicationsor websites, and communicate using instant messaging (IM) or othercommunications applications. Each of these applications or websitestypically requires the user to enter a password or other authenticationinformation in order to access the user's account and use theapplication or website. Although users often use the same mobileterminal to log into these various applications and websites, users mustinput account information and/or authentication information each timethe user attempts to access something, which increases the user's inputoperations on the terminal and may affect standby time of the mobileterminal.

SUMMARY

According to a first aspect of the present disclosure, there is provideda user login method for use in a terminal, comprising: receiving anautomatic login request; acquiring a terminal identifier of theterminal; sending, to a server, a query request about a user accountassociated with the terminal identifier and a password corresponding tothe user account, the query request including the terminal identifier;receiving, from the server, a query result based on the query request;selecting a user account from the query result and a passwordcorresponding to the selected user account, if the query result is notempty; and sending, to the server, the selected user account and thecorresponding password, for the selected user account to login afterauthentication by the server.

According to a second aspect of the present disclosure, there isprovided a terminal, comprising: a processor; and a memory for storinginstructions executable by the processor; wherein the processor isconfigured to: receive an automatic login request; acquire a terminalidentifier of the terminal; send, to a server, a query request about auser account associated with the terminal identifier and a passwordcorresponding to the user account, the query request including theterminal identifier; receive, from the server, a query result based onthe query request; select a user account from the query result and apassword corresponding to the selected user account, if the query resultis not empty; and send, to the server, the selected user account and thecorresponding password, for the selected user account to login afterauthentication by the server.

According to a third aspect of the present disclosure, there is provideda user login system, comprising: a server; and a mobile terminal;wherein: the mobile terminal is configured to receive an automatic loginrequest, acquire a terminal identifier of the mobile terminal, and senda query request about a user account associated with the terminalidentifier and a password corresponding to the user account, the queryrequest including the terminal identifier; the server is configured toperform, based on the terminal identifier, a query of a user accountassociated with the terminal identifier and a password corresponding tothe user account, and return the query result to the mobile terminal;the mobile terminal is further configured to receive the query result,select a user account from the query result and the passwordcorresponding to the selected user account, if the query result is notempty, and send the selected user account and the corresponding passwordto the server; and the server is further configured to perform userlogin authentication according to the selected user account and thecorresponding password.

It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description andthe following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory onlyand are not restrictive of the invention, as claimed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a flowchart of a user login method, according to an exemplaryembodiment.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart of a user login method, according to an exemplaryembodiment.

FIGS. 3(a) and 3(b) are diagrams of a login interface, according to anexemplary embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of a device, according to an exemplaryembodiment.

FIG. 5 is a diagram of a user login method in a system, according to anexemplary embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram of a device, according to an exemplaryembodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Reference will now be made in detail to exemplary embodiments, examplesof which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. The followingdescription refers to the accompanying drawings in which the samenumbers in different drawings represent the same or similar elementsunless otherwise represented. The implementations set forth in thefollowing description of exemplary embodiments do not represent allimplementations consistent with the inventions. Instead, they are merelyexamples of apparatuses and methods consistent with aspects related tothe inventions as recited in the appended claims.

FIG. 1 is a flowchart of a user login method 100 for use in a device,such as a mobile terminal, according to an exemplary embodiment.Referring to FIG. 1, the method 100 includes the following steps.

In step S101, the mobile terminal receives an automatic login requestfrom a user. For example, the mobile terminal receives the automaticlogin request through a website or a software application installed onthe mobile terminal, e.g., an instant messaging (IM) application, amicroblog, a WeChat application, a networking space, etc. The automaticlogin request includes a target server identifier, which can be theidentifier of a server for the software or for the website. The serverstores binding information regarding a terminal identifier of the mobileterminal, a user account associated with the terminal identifier, and apassword of the user account. The server can perform a query of the useraccount associated with the terminal identifier and the password of theuser account from the binding information, according to the terminalidentifier.

In exemplary embodiments, the password is an encrypted password. If themobile terminal is a mobile phone, the terminal identifier can be aserial number, an international mobile equipment identity (IMEI), amobile equipment identifier (MEI), or a wireless media access control(MAC) address, etc. of the mobile phone. A mobile phone number can alsobe used as the terminal identifier.

For example, the binding information regarding the terminal identifier,the user account, and the password can be stored as shown in Table 1below.

TABLE 1 Terminal User Identifier Account Password A000002EDD007E78394015 385ad8ce83be99f1e6b3410b8ad7e4e7 E00DF002EFGGGE 25893145565ad8cedfddfg99f1e6b3fdffgdfgdf

In step S102, the mobile terminal acquires the terminal identifier.Different mobile terminals may acquire terminal identifiers in differentmanners. For example, if the mobile terminal's serial number is used asthe terminal identifier, which is generally provided on the back of themobile terminal, and stored in a primary memory of the mobile terminal,the mobile terminal can acquire its serial number through calling apredefined application programming interface (API) function.

In step S103, the mobile terminal sends a query request about a useraccount associated with the terminal identifier and the passwordcorresponding to the user account to the server. For example, the queryrequest includes the terminal identifier of the mobile terminal. Becausethe server may store binding information regarding the terminalidentifier of the mobile terminal, the user account, and the password ofthe user account, the server can perform a query of the user accountassociated with the terminal identifier and the password correspondingto the user account. For example, assuming that the terminal identifieracquired in step S102 is “A000002EDD007E,” as shown in Table 1, theserver can perform a query, based on the terminal identifier“A000002EDD007E,” and find that the user account corresponding to thesoftware or website and associated with the mobile terminal is“78394015,” and the encrypted password of the user account is“385ad8ce83be99f1e6b3410b8ad7e4e7.”

In step S104, the mobile terminal receives a query result from theserver. For example, the server returns the query result to the mobileterminal, and the mobile terminal can perform user login authenticationafter receiving the query result.

In step S105, if the query result is not empty, the mobile terminalselects the user account and the password corresponding to the selecteduser account from the query result. In the illustrated embodiment, theserver acquires the user account and the encrypted passwordcorresponding to the user account based on the terminal identifier. Ifthe query result is not empty, the query result will include the useraccount and password information. Accordingly, the mobile terminal canselect the user account and the corresponding password from the queryresult.

In one exemplary embodiment, an account selection control element can becreated in the mobile terminal prior to selecting the user account andcorresponding password from the query result, and is configured toreceive a user account selected by a user from the query result.

FIG. 3(a) is a diagram of a login interface 302 including an accountselection control element 308, according to an exemplary embodiment. Forexample, the account selection control element 308 is an icon selectioncontrol element including at least one user account for the user'sselection and a cartoon image corresponding to the user account, so thatthe user can select the cartoon image for the mobile terminal to acquirethe user account corresponding to the selected cartoon image. FIG. 3(a)will be further described below.

Accordingly, the mobile terminal detects an account selection signalgenerated from the account selection control element, and acquires theselected user account from the account selection control element. Themobile terminal further acquires the password corresponding to theselected user account from the query result.

Referring back to FIG. 1, in step S106, the mobile terminal sends theselected user account and the corresponding password to the server, sothat the server can authenticate login of the selected user account.

The method 100 can reduce the user's input operation, thereby extendinga standby time of the mobile terminal and saving energy. Moreover,because multiple software applications or websites may share the sameserver and the same set of user account and password, the method 100 canavoid using a process communication to detect user accounts of othersoftware applications or websites, which can reduce a workload of themobile terminal and further extend the standby time of the mobileterminal.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart of a user login method 200 for use in a device,such as a mobile terminal, according to an exemplary embodiment.Referring to FIG. 2, the method 200 includes the following steps.

In step S201, the mobile terminal receives an automatic login request.

In step S202, the mobile terminal acquires a terminal identifier of themobile terminal.

In step S203, the mobile terminal sends a query request about a useraccount associated with the terminal identifier and a passwordcorresponding to the user account to the server.

In step S204, the mobile terminal receives a query result.

Steps S201 to S204 are similar to steps S101 to S104, respectively.

In step S205, the mobile terminal determines whether the query result isempty and, if yes, performs step S208, otherwise, performs step S206. Ifthe query result is empty, it indicates that the mobile terminal doesnot bind with a user account or that the query fails.

In step S206, the mobile terminal prompts the user to select an existinguser account from the query result or to input a new user account in alogin interface. Accordingly, the user can login by directly using thebound user account. As a result, the user's input operations can bereduced. If the user wants to login by using an unbound user account, oranother user is using the user's mobile terminal to login the otheruser's user account, the mobile terminal can further display a pop-upcontrol element for popping up a new user login control element in thelogin interface, and the new user login control element is configured toreceive a new user account and a corresponding password.

For example, FIGS. 3(a) and 3(b) are diagrams of a login interface 302,according to an exemplary embodiment. Referring to FIGS. 3(a) and 3(b),the login interface 302 includes a first button, e.g., a “Quick Login”button 304, for automatic login by the direct use of a bound useraccount, and a second button, e.g., a “Login with New User Account”button 306 for login by using a user account that is not bound with themobile terminal. When the user clicks the “Quick Login” button 304, asshown in FIG. 3(a), the mobile terminal displays the account selectioncontrol element 308, as described above. When the user clicks the “Loginwith New User Account” button 314, the mobile terminal displays a newuser account login control element 318.

Referring back to FIG. 2, in step S207, the mobile terminal determineswhether the user selects the existing user account and, if yes, performsstep S214, otherwise performs steps S208. For example, when the userclicks the “Quick Login” button 304 (FIG. 3), the mobile terminalperforms step S214, otherwise, performs step S208.

In step S208, the mobile terminal displays the new user account logincontrol element. For example, when the user clicks the “Login with OtherUser Account” button 306 (FIG. 3), the mobile terminal displays the newuser account login control element 318.

In step S209, the mobile terminal acquires a user account and acorresponding password inputted by the user. For example, when the userclicks the “Login” button in the login interface 302 (FIG. 3 (b)), themobile terminal acquires the user account from the corresponding inputbox, and acquires the password inputted by the user from thecorresponding input box. In one exemplary embodiment, the mobileterminal encrypts the acquired password.

In step S210, the mobile terminal sends the acquired user account andthe acquired password for login authentication by the server.

In step S211, the mobile terminal receives a login authentication resultfrom the server.

In step S212, the mobile terminal determines whether the loginauthentication is successful and, if yes, performs step S213, otherwiseperforms step S209.

In step S213, the mobile terminal sends the terminal identifier, theuser account, and the corresponding password to the server.

In steps S208-S213, the user account is not bound with the mobileterminal, and the server does not store binding information regardingthe terminal identifier of the mobile terminal, the user account, andthe password. To enable the user account to realize user loginauthentication on the mobile terminal, the mobile terminal sends theterminal identifier, the user account, and the corresponding password tothe server, for the server to create new binding information thatincludes the terminal identifier, the user account, and thecorresponding password. This procedure is not mandatory, and an optioncan be provided in the login interface for the user to choose whether ornot bind the user account with the mobile terminal.

In step S214, if the mobile terminal determines that the user selects anexisting user account, the mobile terminal acquires the selected useraccount and the password corresponding to the selected user account. Forexample, when the user clicks the “Quick Login” button 304 (FIG. 3(a)),the mobile terminal displays the account selection control element 308(FIG. 3(a)). When the user further selects an icon corresponding to theuser account A, the mobile terminal acquires the user account A. Becausethe query result includes the password corresponding to the user accountA, the mobile terminal can search the query result for the passwordcorresponding to the user account A.

In step S215, the mobile terminal sends the selected user account andthe corresponding password for login authentication by the server.

In step S216, the mobile terminal receives a result of the loginauthentication returned from the server.

In the method 200, when the user account is not bound with the mobileterminal or the user uses a new user account to login from the mobileterminal, the user account can be bound with the mobile terminal, whichmakes the use operation convenient, increases a subsequent automaticlogin probability from the mobile terminal, and thus further extends thestandby time of the mobile terminal.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of a device 400, according to an exemplaryembodiment. Referring to FIG. 4, the device 400 may include a requestreceiving unit 401 configured to receive an automatic login request, aterminal identifier acquisition unit 402 configured to acquire aterminal identifier of the device 400, a query request unit 403configured to send a query request regarding a user account associatedwith the terminal identifier and a password corresponding to the useraccount, and a query result receiving unit 404 configured to receive aquery result.

The device 400 may also include an account and password acquisition unit405 configured to select, from the query result, a user account and apassword corresponding to the selected user account, if the query resultis not empty, a login information transmission unit 406 configured tosend the user account and the password to the server.

In exemplary embodiments, if the query result is not empty, the accountand password acquisition unit 405 displays an account selection controlelement in a login interface, the account selection control elementbeing configured to receive a user selection of a user account in thequery result. The account and password acquisition unit 405 also detectsan account selection signal that acts on the account selection controlelement, acquires the selected user account from the account selectioncontrol element, and acquires the password corresponding to the selecteduser account from the query result.

The device 400 may also include a new user account login unit 407configured to display, if the query result is not empty, a pop-upcontrol element for popping up a new user account login control elementin the login interface. If the pop-up control element receives a triggersignal, the new user account login control element will be displayed forreceiving a new user account and a corresponding password. In addition,if the query result is empty, the new user account login control elementcan also be displayed in the login interface. After the new user logincontrol element is displayed, a new user account login request signalthat acts on the new user account login control element can be detected.Accordingly, the user account and the corresponding password areacquired from the new user account login control element. The acquireduser account and the acquired password are sent to the server for loginauthentication. Further, if successful login information is receivedfrom the server, the new user account login unit 407 can send theterminal identifier, the acquired user name, and the acquired passwordto the server to store.

The device 400 can reduce the user's input operations, thereby extendingthe standby time of the device 400 and saving energy. Moreover, becausemultiple software applications or websites may share the same server andthe same set of user account and password, the device 400 can avoidusing a process communication to detect user accounts of other softwareapplications or websites, which can reduce a workload of the device 400and further extend the standby time of the device 400.

FIG. 5 is a diagram of a method 500 for use in a system includes atleast one server and at least one mobile terminal, according to anexemplary embodiment. Referring to FIG. 5, the mobile terminal receivesan automatic login request from a user (501). The mobile terminal alsoacquires a terminal identifier of the mobile terminal, and sends a queryrequest about a user account associated with the terminal identifier anda password of the user account to the server (502), the query requestincluding the terminal identifier of the mobile terminal.

The server performs, based on the terminal identifier, a query of a useraccount associated with the terminal identifier and a passwordcorresponding to the user account, and returns a query result to themobile terminal (503).

The mobile terminal receives the query result. If the query result isnot empty, the mobile terminal selects, from the query result, a useraccount and a password corresponding to the selected user account (504),and sends the selected user account and the corresponding password tothe server (505).

The server performs user login authentication according to the selecteduser account and the corresponding password (506) and sends a loginauthentication result to the mobile terminal (507), for the selecteduser account to login.

In exemplary embodiments, the mobile terminal is configured to performthe above described user login methods 100 (FIG. 1) and 200 (FIG. 2).

FIG. 6 is a block diagram of a mobile terminal 600, according to anexemplary embodiment. Referring to FIG. 6, the mobile terminal 600includes a processor 602, and a memory 604 for storing data as well asfor storing instructions for performing the above described user loginmethods, and otherwise facilitating operation of the processor 602.

In exemplary embodiments, there is also provided a non-transitorycomputer-readable storage medium including instructions, such asincluded in the memory 604, executable by the processor 602, forperforming the above-described user login methods. For example, thestorage medium can be a hard drive, a CD-ROM, a floppy disk, etc.

One of ordinary skill in the art will understand that the abovedescribed units can each be implemented by hardware, or software, acombination of hardware and software. One of ordinary skill in the artwill also understand that multiple ones of the above described units maybe combined as one unit, and each of the above described units may befurther divided into a plurality of sub-units.

Other embodiments of the inventions will be apparent to those skilled inthe art from consideration of the specification and practice of theinventions disclosed here. This application is intended to cover anyvariations, uses, or adaptations of the inventions following the generalprinciples thereof and including such departures from the presentdisclosure as come within known or customary practice in the art. It isintended that the specification and examples be considered as exemplaryonly, with a true scope and spirit of the inventions being indicated bythe following claims.

It will be appreciated that the present inventions are not limited tothe exact construction that has been described above and illustrated inthe accompanying drawings, and that various modifications and changescan be made without departing from the scope thereof. It is intendedthat the scope of the inventions only be limited by the appended claims.

1-27. (canceled)
 28. A user login method for use in a terminal,comprising: receiving, by the terminal, an automatic login requestinitiated on the terminal; obtaining locally, by the terminal, aterminal identifier of the terminal; sending, by the terminal, to aserver, a query request about a user account associated with theterminal identifier and a password corresponding to the user account,the query request including the terminal identifier; receiving, by theterminal, from the server, a query result based on the query request; ifthe query result is not empty, displaying, by the terminal, one or moreicons on a login interface for user selection, each icon correspondingto a user account bound with the terminal identifier from the queryresult; selecting, by the terminal, a user account from the query resultand a password corresponding to the selected user account according to aselected icon on the login interface; and sending, by the terminal, tothe server, the selected user account and the corresponding password,for the selected user account to login after authentication by theserver.
 29. The user login method according to claim 28, wherein: if thequery result is not empty, displaying, by the terminal, one or moreicons on a login interface for user selection further comprises:displaying, by the terminal on the login interface, a first option tologin with a bound user account and a second option to login with a newuser account; and if the first option is activated, displaying, by theterminal, the one or more icons on the login interface for userselection.
 30. The user login method according to claim 29, wherein ifthe first option is activated, displaying, by the terminal, the one ormore icons on the login interface for user selection further comprises:creating, by the terminal, an account selection control element on thelogin interface; and sending, by the terminal, the one or more useraccounts in the query result to the account selection control element;wherein the account selection control element includes the one or moreicons corresponding to the one or more user accounts.
 31. The user loginmethod according to claim 30, wherein selecting the user account and thepassword comprises: detecting whether an account selection signalcorresponding to the selected icon is generated from the accountselection control element; acquiring the selected user account from theaccount selection control element if the account selection signal isdetected; and acquiring the password corresponding to the selected useraccount in the query result.
 32. The user login method according toclaim 29, further comprising: if the second option is activated,displaying, by the terminal, a new user account login control element onthe login interface; wherein the new user account login control elementis configured to receive a new user account and a correspondingpassword.
 33. The user login method according to claim 32, furthercomprising: detecting, by the terminal, whether a new user account loginrequest signal is generated from the new user account login controlelement; acquiring, by the terminal, the new user account and thecorresponding password from the new user account login control element,when the new user account login request signal is detected; and sending,by the terminal, the acquired user account and the acquired password tothe server for login after authentication by the server.
 34. The userlogin method according to claim 33, wherein the server authenticates theacquired user account and the acquired password, and the method furthercomprises: receiving, by the terminal, information indicating successfullogin returned from the server after the authentication; and sending, bythe terminal, the terminal identifier, the acquired user name, and theacquired password to the server, wherein the server binds and stores theterminal identifier, the acquired user name, and the acquired password.35. The user login method according to claim 34, wherein sending, by theterminal, the terminal identifier, the acquired user name, and theacquired password to the server further comprises: providing, by theterminal, an option in the login interface for the user to choosewhether to bind the new user account and the corresponding password ofthe new user account with the terminal; receiving, by the terminal, asignal from the login interface indicating the user chooses to bind thenew user account with the terminal; and when the signal is received,sending, by the terminal, the terminal identifier, the acquired username, and the acquired password to the server; and


36. The user login method according to claim 32, further comprising: ifthe query result is empty, displaying, by the terminal, the new useraccount login control element on the login interface.
 37. A terminal foruser login, comprising: at least one processor; and a memory for storinginstructions executable by the at least one processor; wherein the atleast one processor is configured to: receive an automatic login requestinitiated on the terminal; obtain locally a terminal identifier of theterminal; send, to a server, a query request about a user accountassociated with the terminal identifier and a password corresponding tothe user account, the query request including the terminal identifier;receive, from the server, a query result based on the query request; ifthe query result is not empty, display one or more icons on a logininterface for user selection, each icon corresponding to a user accountbound with the terminal identifier from the query result; select a useraccount from the query result and a password corresponding to theselected user account according to a selected icon on the logininterface; and send, to the server, the selected user account and thecorresponding password, for the selected user account to login afterauthentication by the server.
 38. The terminal according to claim 37,wherein the at least one processor is further configured to: if thequery result is not empty, display, on the login interface, a firstoption to login with a bound user account and a second option to loginwith a new user account; and if the first option is activated, displaythe one or more icons on the login interface for user selection.
 39. Theterminal according to claim 38, wherein the at least one processor isfurther configured to: if the first option is activated, create anaccount selection control element on the login interface; and send theone or more user accounts in the query result to the account selectioncontrol element, wherein the account selection control element includesthe one or more icons corresponding to the one or more user accounts.40. The terminal according to claim 39, wherein the at least oneprocessor is further configured to: detect whether an account selectionsignal corresponding to the selected icon is generated from the accountselection control element; acquire the selected user account from theaccount selection control element if the account selection signal isdetected; and acquire the password corresponding to the selected useraccount in the query result.
 41. The terminal according to claim 38,wherein the at least one processor is further configured to: if thesecond option is activated, display a new user account login controlelement on the login interface; wherein the new user account logincontrol element is configured to receive a new user account and acorresponding password.
 42. The terminal according to claim 41, whereinthe at least one processor is further configured to: detect whether anew user account login request signal is generated from the new useraccount login control element; acquire the new user account and thecorresponding password from the new user account login control element,when the new user account login request signal is detected; and send theacquired user account and the acquired password to the server for loginafter authentication by the server.
 43. The terminal according to claim42, wherein the server authenticates the acquired user account and theacquired password, and the at least one processor is further configuredto: receive information indicating successful login returned from theserver after the authentication; and send the terminal identifier, theacquired user name, and the acquired password to the server, wherein theserver binds and stores the terminal identifier, the acquired user name,and the acquired password.
 44. The terminal according to claim 43,wherein the at least one processor is further configured to: provide anoption in the login interface for the user to choose whether to bind thenew user account and the corresponding password of the new user accountwith the terminal; receive a signal from the login interface indicatingthe user chooses to bind the new user account with the terminal; andwhen the signal is received, send, to the server, the terminalidentifier, the acquired user name, and the acquired password.
 45. Theterminal according to claim 41, wherein the at least one processor isfurther configured to: if the query result is empty, display the newuser account login control element on the login interface.
 46. Theterminal according to claim 37, wherein: the terminal is a mobile phone;and the terminal identifier is at least one of an international mobileequipment identity (IMEI), a mobile equipment identifier (MEI), and awireless media access control (MAC) address of the mobile phone.